Lincolnshire Federation reached the final of the Adams Trophy on Saturday (July 6) by beating Hunts by 60 shots at Sawtry (18-4) to qualify for Skegness in August. In the final, they will play either Derbyshire or Notts who meet in Derby at the weekend to also secure a place at EBF Championships.
In the Newton Trophy final, holders Suffolk will play the winners of the Cleveland v Humberside northern section decider at Ropner Park later this week.
For Northants’ teams in the two competitions, disappointingly their race was run very early in the campaign with successive defeats but despite last minute changes, both finished the season in some style by beating both Norfolk respectively at Holt and R G Carters in Norwich, compiling 17 identical points from three rink wins and a draw.
Jon Earl, the Adams team captain, had to dig deep for players to make the long trek to the East coast, 10 of whom loyally supported him from his home Blackstones club – and helped to provide three winning rinks in a closely fought tussle in drizzle conditions.
With all but one two-bowl triple to complete their 31 ends, the result rested on the Blackstones combination of Mark Pye, Sam Downes and Adam Warrington. However, they were able to maintain a steady shots accumulation to boost the overall total to 168-157 and eventually take the rink honours 37-20.
Elsewhere the winning margins were closer. Wayne Morris, Dusty Miller and Paul Bailey claimed a five-shot margin and Mike Humphreys, Martyn Dolby and Earl showed a gutsy resolve to edge home by two after trailing by six with seven ends to play.
Martin Welsford’s Whittlesey Manor rink, which included Mick Linnell at last making his elusive sixth appearance and subsequent Adams flash, picked up three shots on the last two ends to earn a creditable draw.
The triples, however, skipped by John Holroyd and Paul Buckley were frustrated in being unable to repel late Norfolk surges to steal valuable points.
With his wife Sue suffering a nasty fall which fractured her hip the day before the match at Carters, Newton captain Cliff Watson stepped down and Peterborough & District clubmate Colin Teat filled in on Roger Strong’s rink with Dave Roberts. It proved a successful combination, the trio winning by four shots to contribute to an overall 161-150 victory.
The rink prizes went to Les Sharp, Richard Allam and Malcolm Squires, who won 30-22, with Andy Dyer, Tony Kemp and stand-in captain Brian Bassam just missing out with a 27-20 win.
Also making his debut was senior pairs finalist Malcolm Mann, alongside Vanguard partner Mike Ramsden, whom, with county president Dick Noble, claimed a point sharing 46 shots.
Results (Northants names only):
Adams Trophy (at Holt BC): Norfolk 157 (5pts) Northants 168 (17). Mal Smith, Ally McNaughton, John Holroyd lost 22-27; Mike Humphreys, Martyn Dolby, Jon Earl won 30-28; Roger Stevens, Bob Warters, Paul Buckley lost 24-32; Wayne Morris, Dusty Miller, Paul Bailey won 31-26; Steve Roden, Mick Linnell, Martin Welsford drew 24-24; Sam Downes, Mark Pye, Adam Warrington won 37-20.
Newton Trophy (at RG Carter BC): Norfolk 150 (5) Northants 161 (17). Jeff Clipston, Peter Jessop, Fred Richardson lost 25-27; Dave Corney, Mick Greaves, Alec Emery lost 24-30; Colin Teat, Dave Roberts, Roger Strong won 32-28; Malcolm Nann, Mike Ramsden, Dick Noble drew 23-23; Les Sharp, Richard Allam, Malcolm Squires won 30-22; Andy Dyer, Tony Kemp, Brian Bassam won 27-20.
ONLY MAXIMUMS WILL DO FOR NORTHANTS WOMEN
Only a maximum 18 points will do at St Ives against Hunts on Wednesday if Northants’ women are to stand a chance of reaching the final of the prestigious Donald Steward Trophy at Skegness in August.
They are on 35 points, currently 27 behind leaders Norfolk in the southern section with two games in hand but second placed Suffolk still have 52 and must visit lowly North Essex where they are expected to win. Two maximum victories, however – they play North Essex at Ketton on July 17 – would take Northants just out of reach of their rivals.
Captain Joan Robinson has made a couple of subtle changes with Elizabeth Wallace switched to join Fiona Richardson and Gill Day and Norma Squires drafted in to the rink of Terri Handley and Julie Masters. A player has yet to be nominated to join Yaxley’s Kath Browning and Gill King.
The Silver Vase team will be joined by Val Du’Kett and Margaret Andrews in a re-shuffled side.
Donald Steward: (v Hunts at St Ives) : C Warters, S Suffling, C Ford; T Handley, N Squires, J Masters; F Richardson, E Wallace, G Day; K Browning, AN Other, G King; T Tinklin,L Hext, S Moir.
Silver Vase (v Hunts at Somersham): M Holden, J Padley, M Osbourne; V Slater, A Cox, V Hempsall; C Grief, C McCarthy, H Bass; V Du’Kett, M Andrews, A Northen; J Needham, L Toms, W Humphreys.
FOOTNOTE: Trophy holders from the 2018-19 indoor and outdoor season are requested to return their shields and silverware to the county secretary Mel Beck or the county finals at Blackstones BC, Stamford or by Sunday (July 14) for engraving. The trophies will be re-presented at annual NBF & NWBF awards at Orton Hall on September 22 by national presidents Mick Rayson and Carole Swann.
